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TEL  SONO 


THE  JAPANESE   REFORMER 


AN  AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


M     ^     H~ 


NEW  YORK 

PRINTED  BY  HUNT  &  EATON 

1890 


INTRODUCTION. 


To  write  the  introduction  to  this  autobiography  is 
indeed  a  pleasure  and  privilege.  Though  not  a  year 
has  passed  since  Miss  Tel  Sono  and  I  first  met,  we 
have  learned  "  to  know  each  other's  hearts,"  as  she  so 
sweetly  expresses  it,  and  to  enter  into  each  other's 
hopes. 

God's  hand  in  the  history  of  nations  is  oftentimes 
traced  ;  his  hand  in  the  history  of  a  life  is  here  as 
easily  traced.  The  groping  of  a  heathen  mind  after 
the  true  God  through  long,  weary  years,  until  the  glad 
finding  day,  is  here  shown.  The  picture  of  a  re- 
markable career  crowded  with  worthy  deeds,  and  yet 
but  the  shadow  of  one  more  sublime  toward  which  it 
looks,  is  here  drawn.  And  a  purpose  high,  noble,  and 
Christ-like  is  here  found. 

From  the  "  Land  of  the  Kising  Sun  "  Tel  Sono 
came  to  where  the  beams  of  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness could  fiud  their  way  into  the  misty  darkness  of 
her  heart  and  dispel  the  gloom.  With  a  woman's 
heart  she  felt  for  woman's  woe,  and  came  with  a 
woman's  fixedness  of  purpose,  determined,  at  what- 
ever cost,  to  alleviate  that  woe.  Home  and  honor 
she  left  to  dwell  alone  in  a  strange  land  and  fill  the 


6  Introduction. 

lowliest  place,  that  thus  she  might  the  more  effectu- 
ally work  for  the  accomplishment  of  that  purpose. 
Such  a  spirit  God  himself  honored  by  coming  in  to 
quicken,  energize,  and  vivify.  And  now,  the  eternal 
Light  filling  all  her  soul,  she  will  return  to  be  a 
might}T  power  in  dispelling  Japan's  night,  and  mak- 
ing that  fair  country  in  very  truth  a  land  of  the  ris- 
ing sun — the  rising,  triumphant,  all-conquering  Sun 
of  Righteousness. 

All  cannot  share  in  what  has  made  my  life  richer 
and  stronger — the  friendship  of  this  heroic,  noble 
-woman  and  the  inspiration  of  her  simple,  unfaltering 
faith ;  but  all  can  breathe  something  of  the  freshness 
and  vigor  and  spirit  of  her  presence  by  the  reading  of 
this  story  of  her  life.  Hester  Alway. 


CONTENTS. 

* 

CHAPTER  I. 
Parentage — Studies— Thoughts  op  God — "Tesa" Page      9 

CHAPTER  II. 
Father's  Sickness — A  Prayer 17 

CHAPTER  III. 
,   Marriage — A  Rebellion — Return  to  Father's  House 2L 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Practicing  Law — Disastrous  Fires — Father's  Death 24 

CHAPTER   V. 

A  New-Year's  Dinner — The  Young  Man's  Story — Its  Se- 
quel —  The  Deserted  "Wife 28 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Arrival  in  America — First   Experiences 37 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Three  Days  at  Public  School  —  Young  Ladies'  School 
— Large  Shoes — '•  Want  a  Cracker!"  —  Teacher  of 
Drawing 44 

CHAPTER   VIII. 
A  Trying   Place 47 


8  Contents. 

CHA.PTER  IX. 

Clear  Shining   of   tiie  Truth — Baptism — Organizing  of   a 
Benevolent  Society — Work  Among  the  Fallen Pago     51 

CHAPTER  X. 
A  Backslider  Reclaimed 57 

'    CHAPTER  XL 

At  Chicago — Article  from    Union  Signal — Present  Home — 
An  Appeal GO 


TEL  SONO, 

THE    JAPANESE    REFORMER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PARENTAGE  —  STUDIES THOUGHTS     OF     GOD "  TESA." 

My  ancestors  were  of  high  descent,  and  very 
wealth}'.  Moan  Waka  Sono,  my  grandfather,  who 
lived  in  Nagoya,  was  a  philosopher.  When  over 
fifty  years  old  he  came  to  believe  in  a  God  in  heaven, 
and  built  a  room  for  prayer.  There  lie  always  prayed 
looking  toward  heaven  and  ringing  a  bell  which  he 
held  in  his  right  hand.  Sometimes  he  would  sit  down 
in  the  room  and  remain  engaged  in  prayer  for  hours, 
not  moving  nor  taking  any  nourishment. 

He  began  to  give  all  his  wealth  to  the  destitute,  and 
soon  became  very  poor ;  but  he  did  not  care  about  his 
poverty,  and  always  said,  "  Human  wealth  is  unprof- 
itable.    I  cannot  carry  it  away  when  I  die." 

His  eldest  daughter,  my  aunt,  a  very  fine  poetess, 
was  fund  of  travel.  Once  when  traveling  alone,  as 
was  her  custom,  she  was  met  in  a  mountain-pass  by  a 
thief.  As  a  part  of  every  woman's  education  in  Ja- 
pan is  skill  in  combat,  my  aunt  was  ready  to  defend 
herself.      When  he  made  the  attempt  to  rob  her  she 


10  Tel  Sono. 

adroitly  pushed  him  down  and  held  him  while  she 
reproved  him  for  his  evil  deeds,  explaining  to  him 
the  right  and  wrong  paths.  "I  will  send  yon  to 
judgment  if  you  do  not  repent  and  stop  this  wicked 
business,"  she  said.  "  I  will  go  to  right  work  now," 
he  said.  "  I  have  been  doing  this  work  only  a  few 
months,  but,  after  what  you  have  said,  can  do  it  no 
longer."  Then  lie  wished  her  to  spend  the  night 
with  him.  She  accepted  the  invitation,  received  good 
care  from  himself  and  wife,  and  was  brought  on  her 
journey  the  following  day  by  them. 

When  grandfather  became  very  old  she  took  him 
to  her  home  and  nursed  him.  One  snowy  winter  aft- 
ernoon he  lay  down  after  dinner  to  rest,  saying  in 
verse,  "  He  has  kept  my  life  for  over  eighty  years. 
Now  may  I  rest  in  happiness  ! "  Soon  he  fell  asleep, 
never  to  awaken. 

He  had  four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
The  daughter,  I  have  said,  was  a  poetess,  the  first-born 
son  the  doctor  of  a  prince,  the  second  a  teacher  of 
war-tactics,  and  the  youngest,  my  father,  a  philoso- 
pher and  doctor.  .lie  first  studied  philosophy  and 
traveled  through  the  country.  Once  he  sojourned  in 
a  place  where  the  minister  had  a  very  fine  old  picture 
on  which  he  had  always  wanted  a  poem  written,  but 
could  find  no  person  able  to  write  it.  My  father 
wrote  the  desired  poem,  with  which  the  people  and 
minister  were  so  pleased. they  wished  him  to  stay  a 
while  and  teach  for  them.      They  built  him  a  house 


Parentage — Studies — Etc.  1 1 

and  gave  him  kind  attention.  He  gathered  many 
scholars  about  him  and  remained  there  three  years. 
The  people  wanted  him  to  marry  and  make  his  home 
among  them.  Accordingly,  arrangements  were  made 
and  he  married  the  daughter  of  a  village  governor. 
Shortly  after  the  marriage  he  took  her  to  the  home  of 
his  sister,  leaving  her  there  to  study,  as  she  was  not 
an  educated  woman,  while  he  went  away  to  study 
medicine. 

After  he  was  graduated  they  went  to  the  city  of 
Tokio,  where  he  began  his  practice  of  medicine. 
Many  kings  called  him  to  serve  them,  but  he  loved 
freedom  and  would  never  go.  His  old  scholars  also 
called  him  to  return  to  them.  Shortly  after  my 
birth  my  parents  returned  to  Ebalaki,  where  they 
remained. 

I  was  the  second  eldest  of  four  children.  One 
brother  was  a  doctor,  and  my  sister  was  a  teacher  in  a 
public  school  for  women.  This  school  was  established 
by  her,  and  was  the  first  school  for  women  in  my  na- 
tive place. 

My  good  father  never  worshiped  idols,  neither 
would  he  allow  me  to  do  so,  but  counseled  me  when  a 
little  girl  to  minister  to  the  needs  of  the  destitute 
whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself,  resting  as- 
sured that  a  pure  life  and  kind  deeds  would  be  re- 
warded. His  advice  I  have  never  forgotten,  and  have 
ever  tried  to  live  in  accord  with  it,  gladly  sharing 
whatever  I  had  with  those  not  so  favored.      Near  my 


12  Tel  Sono. 

home  lived  a  poor  widow  who  loved  me  very  much. 
One  evening  I  saw  that  the  back  of  her  dress  w;is 
badly  torn,  and  I  said,  "  O,  bayah  "  (a  word  used  in  ad- 
dressing middle-aged  or  old  women  of  the  lower  class), 
"your  dress  is  torn  behind."  "  Yes,  ojosama"  (miss), 
she  said,  "will  you  give  some  clothes  to  bayah?"  I 
said  I  would,  and  running  home  quickly  I  got  a  sum- 
mer gown  of  my  father's,  a  garment  worn  by  both  men 
and  women,  and  gave  it  to  her.  The  next  morning 
she  came  to  thank  my  mother  for  the  garment.  My 
mother  looked  first  at  one,  then  at  the  other,  and  for 
some  little  time  could  not  speak  for  laughing ;  but 
finally  she  said  it  was  all  right. 

Sometimes  she  scolded  me  for  doing  those  things, 
but  my  father  always  said,  "  She  is  doing  a  good 
work.  Do  not  be  angry  with  her."  Indeed,  I  gave 
my  mother  much  trouble  by  my  generosity,  for 
when  she  had  the  dinner  ready  I  many  times  would 
carry  it  out  the  back  door  and  give  it  to  the  poor. 
My  clothing  also  I  frequently  gave  away.  One  win- 
ter afternoon — for  we  have  our  cold  seasons  in  Japan — 
I  took  two  little  girls  to  a  Buddhist  garden.  They 
were  very  scantily  clothed  and  shivered  in  the  cold 
north  wind.  My  heart  was  moved  with  compassion, 
and,  going  with  them  behind  the  hedge,  I  took  off  two 
of  my  warm  garments  and  gave  one  to  each. 

"Wlu'ii  thirteen  years  of  age  I  began  the  studv  of 
Japanese  poetry  with  my  father.  The  poems  made 
me  think  and  wonder,  while  many  questions  arose  in 


Parentage — Studies — Etc.  1 3 

my  mind.  My  father  understood  me  better  than  any 
one  else,  and  to  him  I  went  with  my  questions. 
"  Father,"  I  said,  "  who  is  the  true  God,  and  where 
is  he  ? " 

"  I  do  not  know,  my  child,  but  think  he  is  somewhere 
in  the  sky." 

"Who  made  the  earth,  the  people,  the  animals,  and 
all  other  things  ? "  I  questioned. 

"  It  may  be  the  works  of  God,"  he  answered,  "be- 
cause human  power  is  not  sufficient." 

From  that  time  I  always  thought  there  was  one 
true  God  who  dwelt  in  the  sky,  though  for  my 
thoughts  I  had  no  other  evidence  than  the  feeling 
that  there  must  be  some  power  in  the  universe  greater 
and  higher  than  mere  human  power. 

That  same  year  an  incident  occurred  that  showed 
me  very  plainly  theutter  folly  of  idol-worship.  While 
walking  to  school  one  morning  with  a  friend,  a  girl 
several  years  older  than  myself,  she  told  me  about  an 
altar  which  her  father  had  erected  to  a  very  popular 
god.  She  said  all  her  friends  and  neighbors  came  to- 
gether every  night  to  worship  him,  and  asked  me  to 
meet  them  with  my  mother.  In  answer  to  my  question 
regarding  what  kind  of  a  god  he  was,  she  said  his  name 
was  Otamasama,  and  that  he  was  very  mighty  and 
strong  ;  in  fact,  that  he  was  the  most  high  God.  I  said, 
"  O  no  !  he  is  an  idol,  and  my  mother  and  I  will  never 
worship  idols."  "I  think  he  will  kill  you  because 
you  speak  against  him,"  she  exclaimed  loudly.    "  Very 


14  Tel  Sono. 

well,"  I  said,  "  if  he  is  the  true  God  I  hope  he  will 
kill  me,  because  I  have  always  searched  for  him  and 
shall  be  glad  to  know  him.  However,  I  do  not  believe 
this  idol  can  kill  me."  She  said  he  certainly  would 
kill  me  because  I  doubted  his  being  God.  "  Will  you 
promise  me  one  thing?"  I  said.  "You  have  asked 
your  god  to  kill  me,  and  if  he  does  not  do  it  will  vou 
apologize  for  your  hatred  and  angry  words  ?  "  She 
thought  a  little  while,  then  said  she  would. 

As  we  neared  home  I  charged  her  not  to  forget  her 
promise,  for  I  could  see  by  her  anxious  face  that  she 
was  greatly  troubled.  In  the  evening  my  most 
intimate  friend  told  me  that  Tesa  was  going  to  have  a 
meeting  at  her  house,  and  was  going  to  ask  her  god  to 
kill  me  that  very  night.  I  told  her  not  to  let  that 
trouble  her,  for  I  was  certain  her  god  was  only  an 
idol,  but  that  I  would  go  over  and  see  her  pray  to 
him.  Then  throwing  my  apron  over  my  head  I 
hurried  to  her  home.  I  could  not  open  the  gate,  so 
crawled  through  a  hole  in  the  hedge  and  crept  up  to 
the  parlor  window.  In  Japan  the  custom  is  to  have 
the  parlor  open  on  the  lawn  at  the  rear  of  the  house. 
AVindows  made  of  fine  heavy  paper  reach  to  the 
ground.  No  curtains  are  used,  and  the  outside  shut- 
ters are  not  closed  until  bed-time.  In  this  large  room, 
or  parlor,  was  erected  the  altar.  I  was  partly  screened 
from  view  by  the  surrounding  trees  and  shrubbery,  and, 
tearing  a  small  hole  in  the  paper  window,  witnessed 
unobserved  the  ceremonies  carried  on  inside. 


Parentage — Studies — Etc.  15 

There  were  about  fifty  people  kneeling  around  the 
altar,  on  which  was  placed  a  paper  image.  Some 
clasped  their  hands  and  looked  up  at  the  image ;  some 
bowed  before  it  until  their  faces  almost  touched  the 
floor,  and  some  had  tinsel  balls  strung  together  like  a 
necklace  which  they  rubbed  between  the  palms  of 
their  hands,  making  a  jingKng  sound,  while  all  gave 
vent  to  exclamations  of  praise  and  adoration.  Their 
faces  were  bathed  in  perspiration  from  their  intense 
earnestness  in  calling  for  the  spirit  to  come  and  enter 
that  paper  idol. 

Before  the  altar  stood  a  large  iron  pan  in  which  a 
slow  lire  was  kept  burning,  filling  the  room  with 
smoke.  I  watched  just  as  earnestly  as  they  prayed, 
wondering  what  a  spirit  could  be  like.  Then  one  of 
their  number  bowed  very  low  directly  in  front  of  the 
altar  and  made  a  long  prayer  in  which  he  besought 
the  spirit  to  come  and  take  possession  of  him. 

After  a  long  time  he  shook  the  image,  causing  the 
paper  ribbons  to  make  a  rustling  noise,  an  indication 
to  the  people  that  his  prayer  was  not  being  answered. 
"  I  feel  very  strange  to-night,"  he  said:  "  Why  does 
not  the  spirit  come?  I  think  there  must  be  some  un- 
believers here."  He  looked  over  the  company,  but 
found  only  his  members  there ;  then  he  opened  the 
window  and  saw  me  sitting  behind  a  small  evergreen 
tree  at  the  corner  under  the  window.  "A  little  un- 
believing girl  has  confused  our  prayers  to-night !  "  he 
exclaimed.     Tesa's  father  came  out  to  where  I  was, 


16  Tel  Sono. 

and,  on  recognizing  nie,  said  to  the  prophet,  "  This 
little  girl  is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Tesai  Sono.  She 
and  my  daughter  are  school-mates."  Then  the 
prophet  told  him  to  drive  me  away  quickly. 

lie  wanted  to  do  as  he  was  bidden,  so  opened  the 
gate  and  told  me  to  go  right  home.  "  No,"  I  said, 
"I  will  not  go  until  your  daughter  acknowledges  to 
me  that  her  god  is  an  idol.  She  promised  me  this 
morning  that  she  would  do  that  if  he  did  not  kill  me 
to-night."  Her  father  called  to  her  and  told  her  to 
come  out,  but  she  refused  because  she  was  afraid. 

Her  mother  came  and  begged  me  to  obey  her  and 
go  home,  saying  she  would  make  acknowledgment  in 
her  daughter's  stead  and  would  give  me  fruit  and  cake 
besides.  That  satisfied  me,  for  I  felt  that  I  had  come 
off  victorious. 

I  said,  "I  will  excuse  her  for  your  sake."  It  was 
then  about  ten  o'clock,  and  I  ran  home  with  my  apron 
full  of  cake  and  fruit,  but  said  nothing  to  my  parents 
about  where  I  had  been. 


Father's  Sickness — A  Prayer.  17 


CHAPTER  II. 

father's  sickness A  PRAYER. 

When  I  was  fourteen  years  old  my  father  fell  sick, 
and  the  doctors  said  that  he  could  not  live  more  than 
two  or  three  days.  This  made  my  mother,  sister,  and 
brothers  so  sad  that  I  could  not  stay  with  them  in  the 
house.  I  determined  to  pray  to  the  true  God  for  my 
father's  life,  so,  taking  my  best  friend,  Otama,  with  me 
into  a  secluded  place  in  the  garden  near  a  well,  I  told 
her  what  I  intended  to  do,  and  asked  her  to  help  me. 

She  listened  earnestly  while  I  talked,  peering  into 
my  face  too  astonished  to  make  any  reply.  At  last 
she  said,  "  Are  you  crazy  to-night  ? "  "  No,  I  am  not 
crazy.  My  mother,  sister,  and  brothers  are  very  sorrow- 
ful and  my  own  heart  is  almost  broken ;  therefore  I 
have  decided  to  offer  my  own  life  as  a  sacrifice  for 
my  father's." 

At  this  point  she  threw  her  arms  around  me,  and 
after  we  had  wept  for  some  time  in  each  other's  em- 
brace she  said,  "  I  will  do  as  you  wish,  but  if  you  die 
I  want  to  die  with  you." 

The  ceremonies  connected  with  prayer  for  the  life_ 
of  a  friend  were  very  solemn  and  awful,  involving  the 
sacrifice  of  the  suppliant's   life   for  that  of    the    sick 
person,  if  necessary.      First  the  hair  was  cut  off  and 


18  Tel  Sono. 

offered  as  a  sacrifice — the  most  precious  which  could 
be  offered  ;  then  the  body  was  stripped,  and  cold 
water  poured  over  it  to  purify  and  make  prayer 
acceptable. 

Taking  a  razor,  I  cut  off  my  hair  close  to  the  scalp 
and  hung  it  up  under  a  tree.  Next  I  took  off  all  my 
clothing,  and,  throwing  it  down  on  the  grass,  seated 
myself  on  a  board  by  the  well.  Otama  then  poured 
three  buckets  full  of  water  on  my  head,  causing  it  to 
run  down  over  my  entire  body.  I  shook  so  with  the 
cold,  both  from  the  water  and  the  north  wind  that  was 
blowing,  that  I  could  not  utter  one  word  of  prayer  at 
first ;  but  after  a  while  I  did  not  feel  the  cold  quite 
so  much,  and  looking  up  toward  the  sky  began  to  pray 
thus  :  "  O,  true  God  !  If  you  stay  somewhere  in  the 
sky,  please  hear  my  voice  !  Please  let  me  die  for  my 
father,  for  if  he  dies  my  mother  will  die  also.  Save 
the  lives  of  my  father  and  mother,  I  pray,  O  God, 
and  I  will  sacrifice  to  you  not  only  my  hair,  but  my 
soul  and  body.  If  you  do  not  spare  my  fathers 
life  I  hope  you  will  kill  me  just  now!  O,  is  there 
no  true  God  in  the  world  ?  I  am  so  hungry  to 
hear  God's  voice !  O,  please  speak  to  me  and 
save  my  father's  life  ? " 

After  Otama  had  poured  the  water  on  my  head 
she  sat  down  on  the  grass  behind  me  and  listened  to 
my  prayer.  Just  as  I  was  uttering  the  last  sentence 
she  cried  with  aloud  voice.  This  attracted  my  grand- 
mother's  attention,  and,   taking   alighted   candle  in 


Father's  Sickness — A  Peayek.  19 

her  hand,  she  with  my  nurse  hurried  into  the  garden. 
When  they  discovered  us  they  were  greatly  shocked 
at  my  condition.  My  nurse  caught  up  my  clothing 
'  and  wrapping  it  around  my  naked  body  carried  me 
to  the  house  and  put  me  down  by  the  lire,  while  my 
grandmother  and  friend  followed  us. 

Grandmother  looked  into  my  face,  put  her  hand 
on  my  head,  and  whispered  something  to  my  nurse ; 
then  both  cried  for  a  long  time. 

It  was  about  eleven  o'clock  when  nurse  took  me  to 
bed,  my  friend  staying  to  sleep  with  me.  Not  being 
able  to  sleep,  I  got  up  about  midnight  and  went 
softly  through  the  hall  to  my  father's  sick-room. 
Listening  carefully  at  the  door,  I  heard  some 
one  laugh.  "  That  is  my  mother's  voice,"  I  said. 
"  I  believe  God  has  heard  my  prayer  and  made  my 
father  better,  or  mother  would  not  be  laughing." 
Just  then  mother  came  out  and  saw  me  standing 
by  the  door.  She  looked  into  my  face  and  said, 
"  My  dear,  father  is  a  little  better ;  you  did  him 
good.  Now  run  right  to  bed  and  get  a  good 
s^eep  ;  then  you  may  get  up  early  and  come  to  see 
him." 

I  obeyed,  and  slept  soundly  all  the  rest  of  the  night. 

Hising  early,  I  went  to  my  father's  room  and   looked 

anxiously  into  his   face  to   see  how  he  was.     "  My 

dear,"  he  said,  speaking  slowly  and  in   a  very  weak 

voice,  "  I  am  much  better  this  morning,  and  think  I 

will  soon  be  well ;  you  need  not  feel  troubled  about 
2 


20  Tel  Sono. 

me  any  more.  I  Lope  that  you  will  go  to  school  to-day 
and  have  good  lessons." 

I  ran  away  by  myself  and  cried  for  joy.  "  Surely 
there  is  a  true  God  somewhere,"  I  said,  and  prayed 
again  :  "  O,  true  God,  I  thank  you  very  much  for  sav- 
ing my  father's  life.  Now  I  wish  you  would  please 
keep  him  alive  many  years,  and  take  my  life  any  time 
instead."  Then  I  went  to  school  and  played  with  the 
children. 

My  mind  was  perfectly  at  rest  about  my  father 
from  that  time,  and  by  Christmas,  two  months  later, 
lie  was  entirely  well. 


Marriage — A  Rebellion — Etc.  21 


CHAPTER  III. 

MARRIAGE A  REBELLION RETURN  TO  FATHER'S    HOUSE. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  my  parents  betrothed  ine  to  an 
officer  of  the  king's  treasure,  to  whom  I  was  soon  mar- 
ried, lie  took  me  to  his  home,  where  his  parents  and 
two  sisters-in-law  also  lived.  The  following  year  (I860) 
there  arose  a  rebellion  that  caused  much  excitement 
for  a  time  but  was  soon  quelled.  I  had  been  spending 
the  night  with  my  mother,  and  very  early  in  the  morn- 
ing we  were  awakened  by  the  firing  of  guns  in  rapid 
succession.  Mother's  maid  came  running  into  the  roam 
and  told  us  to  get  up  at  once,  that  the  rebels  were 
fighting  in  our  town,  Manaba".  Rising  quickly,  I 
looked  toward  my  husband's  home  and  saw  that  it 
was  completely  enveloped  in  smoke  and  fire.  "I 
must  go  right  home  !  "  I  exclaimed.  Mother  remon- 
strated with  me,  and  said,  "  You  cannot  go,  child,  for 
you  might  have  to  pass  right  through  the  blazing  fire 
and  be  burned  to  death." 

But  I  scarcely  knew  what  she  was  saying  ;  and, 
dressing  hurriedly,  I  hastened  home.  My  husband 
and  father-in-law  being  officers  of  the  king's  court 
were  of  course  on  duty,  and  I  found  my  mother  and 
sisters-in-law  with  their  treasures  tied  up  and  just 
ready  to  escape  from  the  house.     "  Mother,  I  think 


22  Tel  Sono. 

you  had  better  -wait  a  while,"  I  said,  "because  when 
father  wants  more  arms  he  will  send  a  messenger  for 
them,  and  if  we  leave  who  will  give  them  to  him  ? 
Our  goods  will  be  stolen  if  we  leave  the  house ;  be- 
sides, the  fighting  will  probably  stop  soon,  and  if  it 
does  not  the  king  will  have  us  taken  to  his  fort." 
But  my  mother-in-law  said  she  could  not  wait  so  long 
for  deliverance,  and  that  she  was  going  to  look  after 
her  own  life  and  the  lives  of  her  daughters.  "  If  you 
want  to  stay  alone  and  watch  the  house  you  may 
do  so,"  she  said. 

After  they  had  gone  I  washed  my  face,  changed 
my  dress,  took  one  of  my  husband's  swords,  and 
seated  myself  on  the  front  door  step  to  watch  the 
battle. 

The  enemies  were  soon  scattered,  and  by  evening 
our  town  was  in  peace  and  quiet.  When  peace  was 
restored  those  who  had  fled  from  their  homes  in  fear 
crept  quietly  back  like  so  many  spiders,  carrying  their 
bundles  with  them. 

My  husband  was  called  to  Tokio  on  matters  of 
business  occasioned  by  the  rebellion,  and  was  detained 
there  a  year.  On  his  return  I  noticed  that  he  had 
begun  to  drink  wine.  Many  times  I  begged  him  to 
stop,  but  he  would  not  listen  to  me.  In  my  country 
the  Enarimamre,  or  Fox  holiday,  is  celebrated  the 
second  day  of  February.  Small  temples  are  built  in  tin; 
yard  of  each  king,  and  sumptuous  feasts  are  spread  for 
the  officers  and  their  guests.    On  one  such  occasion  my 


Marriage — A  Rebellion — Etc.  23 

husband  spent  all  day  feasting  and  playing  with  his 
friends,  and  came  home  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing very  drunk  and  wanted  me  to  drink  wine  with 
him.  "No,"  I  said,  "I  will  never  give  you  wine  to 
drink  in  my  house."  He  left  the  room,  but  soon  came 
back  bringing  a  bottle  of  wine,  and  commanded  me 
to  make  a  wine  feast  for  him.  This  I  refused  to  do, 
and  took  the  glass  from  his  hand,  out  of  which  he 
was  about  to  drink.  At  this  he  became  very  angry 
and  struck  me.  Then  I  concluded  that  it  would  be 
better  for  me  to  go  back  to  my  father's  house,  and  to 
do  so  at  once,  while  my  husband  was  rich.  Should  I 
wait  until  he  became  poor  he  would  say  that  I  left 
him  because  of  his  poverty  and  would  hate  me.  Ac- 
cordingly, I  took  my  little  daughter,  then  three  years 
old,  and  returned  to  my  home,  May  2,  1871.  My 
grandmother  had  died  the  year  before,  and  in  her 
house,  which  was  in  the  same  yard  with  my  father's, 
I  lived  with  one  servant.  There  I  established  a  free 
school  for  the  poor  and  taught  it  for  three  years. 

My  father  and  I  resumed  our  study  together,  and 
in  addition  to  other  studies  we  read  books  of  law. 

My  daughter's  future,  and  how  to  provide  for  it, 
was  a  great  question  in  my  mind.  She  must  be  edu- 
cated, and  I  wondered  what  I,  a  woman,  could  do  to 
earn  money  sufficient.  At  last  I  decided  to  be  a  law- 
yer. Closing  my  school,  and  leaving  my  daughter 
with  my  mother,  I  went  to  Tokio  to  pursue  my 
studies. 


24  Tel  Sono. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PRACTICING    LAW DISASTROUS  FIRES — FATHER'S  DEATH. 

For  three  months  I  held  the  position  of  secretary 
of  judgment,  and  then  began  the  practice  of  law. 

There  is  in  my  country  no  tradition  of  a  woman 
lawyer,  and  up  to  the  present  time  I  have  been  the 
only  one. 

Many  people  came  to  see  me  every  day  as  I  went 
to  court,  and  when  I  passed  through  the  yard  the 
people  on  both  sides  of  the  judicial  and  assize  courts 
would  stand  up  to  gaze  at  me.  They  thought  it  very 
wonderful  and  strange  for  a  wonntn  to  be  a  lawyer. 

That  year  much  that  was  new  from  America  and 
other  countries  was  introduced  into  Japan,  among 
which  was  the  telegraph,  steam-carriages,  electric 
light,  and  photography. 

At  this  time  two  poets  who  lived  in  the  city  of 
Tokio,  N.  Ohash  and  S.  Keta,  wrote  one  hundred 
poems  about  the  wonderful  things  Japan  now  pos- 
sessed. One  poem  was  about  the  woman  lawyer,  and 
thus,  when  the  book,  Toklshensh,  was  published,  my 
name  became  known  throughout  Japan. 

For  twelve  years  I  followed  the  practice  of  law,  and 
my  career  was  recognized  by  all  as  most  successful. 
In  this   profession    the    low  position  of  woman  was 


Practicing  Law — Disastrous  Fires— Etc.     25 

brought  more  clearly  than  ever  before  my  mind,  and 
in  my  heart  there  burned  a  desire  to  elevate  her  by 
giving  her  an  education. 

My  wisest  course  to  accomplish  this  object  seemed 
to  be  to  visit  America  and  learn  the  customs  of  a  peo- 
ple where  woman  stood  on  a  level  with  man.  But  no 
opportunity  for  me  to  leave  my  business  presented 
itself.  One  day  a  poor  woman  who  had  been  en- 
snared by  a  wicked  man,  and  led  to  make  a  great 
mistake  through  her  ignorance,  was  tried  and  con- 
demned. 

How  my  heart  burned  !  I  grew  impatient  of  de- 
lay. Soon  I  would  be  too  old  to  do  the  work  now 
within  my  power.  To  America  I  must  go,  and  that  at 
once.  Four  days  after  the  decision  against  the  poor 
ignorant  woman,  and  my  decision  following  that,  I 
set  sail  for  America.  But  before  describing  my  life 
in  America  I  will  relate  a  few  incidents  descriptive 
of  my  benevolent  work  during  the  twelve  years  in 
Tokio. 

As  the  buildings  in  my  country  are  mostly  of  wood, 
fires  often  break  out,  and,  sweeping  along  with  terri- 
ble force,  destroy  whole  blocks.  Such  a  fire  raged 
through  the  streets  of  the  poor  one  winter  night,  the 
loud  ringing  of  fire-bells  awakening  me  about  eleven 
o'clock.  The  river  which  ran  through  the  street  was 
frozen  over  so  that  water  enough  to  put  out  the  flames 
could  not  be  obtained,  and  when  morning  dawned  the 
homes  of  almost   three  hundred   poor  families   had 


2(3  Tel  Soxo. 

been  burned  to  the  ground.  At  an  early  hour  I 
opened  a  store  to  feed  these  homeless  ones.  To*each 
person  I  gave  fifteen  pounds  of  rice,  and  to  the  chil- 
dren candy  and  crackers.  For  two  weeks  I  carried 
on  this  benevolent  work,  and  about  three  months 
after  received  a  letter  from  the  emperor  in  acknowl- 
edgment of  my  work. 

At  another  time  a  fire  broke  out  about  a  mile  from 
my  house  and  quite  near  many  buildings  which  I  was 
just  having  put  up.  The  night  was/jalm  at  first,  but 
suddenly  a  strong  west  wind  rose,  driving  the  flames 
with  fierce  rapidity  until  my  new  buildings  were 
reached  and  then  my  home.  Thirty-six  strong  men 
came  to  the  rescue,  carrying  out  all  my  household 
goods,  but  being  quite  unable  to  save  the  buildings. 
All  the  night  they  guarded  my  goods,  while  I  went 
to  a  quiet  place  to  rest.  The  following  morning  I 
took  them  with  me  to  a  great  restaurant,  n;ave  them  a 
good  dinner,  and  offered  money  to  each.  The  money 
they  would  not  accept,  saying  it  was  their  duty  to  help 
in  time  of  fire.  "We  have  often  helped  others," 
they  said,  "  but  never  had  such  a  feast  after  our  work, 
and  we  certainly  never  saw  anyone  with  such  a  pleas- 
ant face  after  being  burned  out.  You  have  ever  been 
ready  to  help  us,  and  we  are  glad  to  do  this  for  you." 
Then  one  of  them  told  about  my  gardener,  who  it 
seemed  would  not  leave  my  home  to  save  his  own, 
saying  if  his  was  destroyed  he  could  bring  his  family 
and  live  with  me.     I  told  them  that  I  understood  all 


Practicing  Law — Disastrous  Fires — Etc.     27 

their  kindness  and  appreciated  it,  but  could  not  rest 
without  paying  them  for  their  services,  and  that  the 
very  experience  through  which  I  had  just  passed 
would  enable  me  to  make  more  money  in  my  busi- 
ness. At  this  they  gladly  received  the  money.  Then 
they  took  me  back  to  my  home,  and  standing  in  rank 
before  the  door  sang  a  happy  song. 

Through  the  kindness  of  friends  a  new  home  was 
quickly  built  for  me.  My  loss  through  this  lire  was 
very  great. 

The  third  year  of  my  business  life  my  father  came  to 
visit  me.  "  I  have  come  to  bid  you  good-bye,"  he  said, 
"  for  I  have  a  sickness  with  which  I  must  soon  die." 

lie  brought  a  letter  from  my  mother  in  which  she 
charged  me  to  comfort  him  and  give  him  good  care, 
for  he  would  probably  die  that  year.  After  three 
months  he  returned  home,  and  soon  becam  every  sick. 
When  I  went  home  to  nurse  him  he  said,  "You 
must  not  trouble.  The  end  of  my  life  is  come,  and 
such  is  the  will  of  heaven."  lie  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  say,  when  he  saw  wicked  persons  come  into  . 
danger  and  distress,  "  It  is  the  judgment  of  Heaven." 

A  month  later,  on  the  evening  of  October  3,  1S76, 
he  told  us,  "I  shall  die  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning."  Then  he  dictated  a  short  poem,  which 
my  sister  wrote  : 

"Ho  in  whose  hand  my  breath  lias  been  held  now  opens  his  hand, 
And  n;y  soul  goes  awuy." 

At  the  hour  named  he  passed  away. 


23  Tel  Sono. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A    NEW-YEAR'S    DINNER THE    YOUNG    MAN'S    STORY ITS 

SEQUEL THE    DESERTED    WIFE. 

As  in  childhood  I  had  loved  to  help  the  needy,  so 
in  womanhood,  with  increased  opportunities,  this  work 
was  one  of  my  chief  delights. 

Every  year  on  Christinas  eve  I  invited  to  my  home 
the  women  and  men  who  worked  for  me.  To  each 
one  I  lent  money  that  they  might  prepare  for  the 
New-year  and  canceled  the  old  year's  debt,  telling 
them  they  must  work  well  the  next  year.  On  the 
New-year,  January  7,  1 'invited  all  the  poor  in  the 
neighborhood,  with  my  working-people,  to  a  soup 
dinner. 

Each  at  my  request  brought  a  handful  of  some- 
thing to  put  in  the  soup,  which  was  being  prepared 
in  a  large  iron  kettle.  They  all  gathered  around  nie 
when  it  was  done,  while  I  tasted  to  find  how  good  the 
soup  was  and  who  had  brought  in  the  best  thing  for 
it,  giving  credit  to  each  one  for  good  taste.  When 
the  dinner  had  been  eaten  I  gave  parcels  of  clothing, 
comforters,  towels,  stockings,  aprons,  cakes,  candies, 
and  other  things  to  the  poor,  and  to  my  rich  friends 
who  came  to  see  the  condition  of  the  poor  I  gave 
boxes  tied  with  bright  ribbons,  which  they  were  not 


A  New- Year's  Dinner — Etc.  29 

to  open  until  they  went  home.  In  these  boxes  were 
baked  potatoes,  turnips,  and  onions.  Early  the  next 
morning  the  poor  would  return  to  thank  me,  and  my 
friends  to  laugh  over  the  funny  contents  of  their 
boxes.  I  remember  now  with  pleasure  these  New- 
year  days  and  the  glad  faces  of  my  people  on  such 
occasions. 

One  morning*  not  lono-  after  the  New-year  ray  hand- 
maid  came  to  my  sitting-room  to  tell  me  the  gardener 
was  crying  in  the  back  kitchen.  I  bade  her  call  him 
in,  and  inquired  concerning  his  trouble.  He  said  his 
mother  had  died  the  night  before,  and  that  he  had  no 
money  to  bury  her.  "  I  cannot  ask  you  for  money," 
he  said,  "for  you  are  always  doing  so  much  for  us." 
However,  I  gave  him  the  needed  money  for  the 
funeral  expenses.  To  the  poor  sick  I  used  to  send 
my  doctor,  also  money  and  food,  and  many  times 
paid  their  funeral  expenses. 

In  December,  1879,  a  young  man  came  to  me  with 
the  following  sad  story  :  "  Two  weeks  ago  a  gentle- 
man came  to  the  clothing:  store  where  I  worked  and 
said  that  his  family  wanted  some  clothes  for  the  New- 
year.  He  chose  high-priced  goods,  and  at  his  request 
I  carried  them  to  the  house  that  his  family  might  see 
them.  Then  he  asked  me  to  leave  them  all  night 
until  his  mother  came  home,  as  they  wanted  to  ask 
her  opinion  about  what  was  best  to  buy.  After  some 
consideration  I  decided  to  leave  them,  as  the  home 
was  not  a  poor  one,  and  I  thought  he  probably  was  an 


30  Tel  Sono. 

officer  of  the  law.  But  I  could  not  sleep  that  night, 
because  in  leaving  the  goods  I  had  broken  the  law  of 
the  store  and  I  felt  I  had  done  wrong.  Early  next 
morning  I  went  to  the  house,  but  it  was  shut  up  and 
no  person  answered  my  knock.  My  heart  beat  like 
dashing  waves  or  the  quick  ringing  of  bells.  All  day 
I  watched,  and  in  the  evening  saw  the  family  return. 
I  went  to  the  man  and  asked  him  for  the  goods.  He 
said  a  person  whom  he  owed  had  taken  them  away  in 
payment  of  his  debt.  lie  was  sorry,  he  said,  but  the 
only  thing  he  could  do  was  to  give  me  three  dollars 
every  month  until  the  price  was  paid.  After  that  he 
would  have  nothing  more  to  "say  to  me.  My  master 
has  said  that  I  must  pay  for  the  goods  if  I  do  not 
bring  them  back  to  the  store,  lie  will  not  forgive 
me,  because  he  says  others  would  do  the  same  by  and 
by.  I  have  no  money  to  pay  and  am  a  stranger,  hav- 
ing come  from  the  far  north  country.  Will  you  not 
speak  for  me  and  get  back  the  goods  that  I  may  re- 
turn to  my  work  ?  " 

I  felt  very  sorry  for  him,  and  went  as  he  requested 
to  the  man  who  had  stolen  the  goods.  The  cause  of 
his  committing  the  evil  deed  was  easily  explained, 
lie  had  been  rich  ;  then,  on  account  of  poor  eye- 
sight, his  business  had  failed,  but  being  proud  he 
wished  to  keep  up  a  good  appearance.  I  told  him 
judgment  would  come  upon  him  for  his  wickedness, 
his  deceit,  and  theft,  lie  was  greatly  ashamed  and 
afraid,  knowing  what  I  had   said  was  true.      "When 


A  New-Year's  Dinner — Etc.  31 

I  had  finished  talking  he  bowed  down  until  his  face 
almost  touched  the  floor,  saying,  with  tears  i  "  Will 
you  not  save  us  with  your  great  virtue  ?  I  committed 
this  iniquity  because  we  have  become  poor  on  ac- 
count of  my  failing  eye-sight.  "  If  you  make  this 
public  I  shall  be  sent  to  prison  as  you  have  said,  and 
my  dear  mother,  wife,  and  child  will  die  with 
hunger.     Please  save  my  family." 

His  wife,  who  sat  beside  him,  cried  so  loudly  that 
his  mother's  attention  was  arrested,  and  she  came 
down-stairs.  His  daughter  also  came  in,  and,  though 
she  did  not  know  what  was  the  trouble,  stood  by  her 
father  weeping.  lie  said  to  her:  "Dear,  your  father 
has  committed  a  great  sin,  and  this  lady  can  send  him 
to  prison.  What  will  you  do  if  I  go  to  prison  ?  You 
will  die  of  hunger,  and  so  will  your  mother  and  grand- 
mother. Ask  this  lady  to  forgive  my  sin  for  the  sake 
of  our  family."  Then  the  child,  who  was  about  ten 
years  old,  and  the  grandmother  of  seventy  and  the 
wife,  all  came  to  my  side  and  worshiped  me,  their 
tears  falling  like  rain.  I  felt  most  sorry  for  the 
grandmother  and  child,  who  had  not  known  of  the 
wrong  that  had  been  done,  especially  for  the  poor 
grandmother.  Her  face  was  thin,  her  hair  white,  and 
she  looked  ready  to  die.  My  heart  began  to  move 
with  compassion  for  them.  I  asked  the  man  what 
restitution  he  could  make.  He  said  he  received  thirty 
dollars  from  the  emperor  every  month,  and  could  pay 
ten  out  of  that  money  until  the  eighty  for  which  he 


32  Tel  Sono. 

had  sold  the  goods  was  refunded.  Taking  hi  in 
with  me,  I  went  to  the  man  who  bought  the  goods 
and  told  him  the  circumstances.  He  was  greatly 
troubled  about  having  stolen  property,  and  on  my 
paying  him  eighty  dollars  collected  the  goods  and 
sent  them  home  with  me.  I  put  them  into  the  hands 
of  the  young  man,  who,  with  a  grateful  heart,  took 
them  back  to  the  store.  I  accompanied  him  and  ex- 
cused him  to  his  master,  who  allowed  him  to  come 
back  to  his  work.  The  debtor  promised  to  pay  me 
ten  dollars  every  month,  and  thus  the  matter  was 
settled. 

Three  years  later  I  read  in  a  newspaper  the  sad  con- 
dition of  a  poor  woman,  who  lived  in  a  wretched 
street  with  a  blind,  sick  husband  and  two  children, 
one  a  baby.  The  paper  said  the  children  were  cry- 
ing of  hunger,  all  were  like  skeletons,  and  the 
mother  was  almost  crazy  with  tn-ief.  I  at  once  went 
to  see  if  what  I  had  read  was  true,  taking  some  food 
in  my  buggy  to  give  them  if  they  were  in  need.  I 
reached  the  place  only  to  find  their  condition  worse 
than  had  been  described.  The  man  was  lying  on 
the  floor  covered  with  a  thin  comforter,  and  the 
children  on  a  large  piece  of  thick  paper  covered 
with  an  old  sheet.  They  were  dressed  in  summer 
clothes,  the  bones  stood  out  on  their  faces,  and 
they  were  in  such  a  weak  condition  they  could  not 
move.  The  first  thing  I  did  was  to  give  them  the 
food    which    I     had    brought      The    woman    acted 


A  New-Year's  Dinner — Etc.  33 

very  strangely  from  the  first ;  her  face  turned  red 
when  she  saw  me,  and  she  did  not  seem  to  receive 
very  willingly  what  I  gave  her.  She  said  to  her  hus- 
band, "  Miss  Tel  Sono  has  called,  and  she  has  brought 
many  things  for  us  ;  she  has  also  given  me  much 
money."  "  Who  did  you  say  had  visited  us?" 
he  said,  starting  up.  "  What  shall  I  do  %  Please  cover 
my  face."  Then  he  assumed  a  worshipful  attitude 
toward  me,  as  did  also  his  wife,  their  tears  falling 
fast.  A  long  while  I  stood  in  the  kitchen  wondering 
who  they  were.  At  last  I  remembered  this  was  the 
man  who  had  stolen  the  goods,  and  I  then  understood 
their  strange  manner.  He  had  not  kept  his  promise 
in  regard  to  paying  me,  but  after  sending  twenty 
dollars  had  moved  away,  and  I  had  heard  nothing 
from  him. 

I  told  them  not  to  trouble  about  that,  the  matter 
had  quite  passed  from  my  mind,  and  that  I  then  for- 
gave them.  "  You  are  in  trouble  now,"  I  said,  "  there- 
fore I  will  think  of  you  as  my  new  friends,  and  do 
what  I  can  to  help  you." 

I  sent  them  warm  clothes,  and  my  doctor  attended 
the  sick  man.  A  month  later  he  died,  and  was  buried 
at  my  expense.  Seven  days  after  the  funeral  I  sent 
the  family  to  their  relatives  in  the  north. 

As  I  look  back  now  I  understand  that  it  was  God 
who  visited  this  man  in  judgment  for  his  sin.  I  for- 
gave him,  but  he  could  not  escape  the  justice  of  God. 

Very  early  one  October  morning  a  poor  woman 


34  Tel  Sono. 

came  to  see  me.  My  maid  told  her  she  had  better 
come  later,  as  her  mistress  had  not  yet  risen.  She 
would  not  move  from  the  front  step,  however,  but 
pleaded  that  she  might  see  me,  saying  I  could  save  her 
life.  When  the  maid  told  me  what  the  woman  said 
I  had  her  called  in.  She  was  about  forty  years  of 
age,  and  wore  a  summer  dress  though  the  day  was 
cold.  In  answer  to  my  questions,  she  told  me  the  fol- 
lowing story  :  "  Four  months  ago  my  husband  and  I 
came  from  the  south  country  to  the  city  of  Tokio  that 
he  might  be  convenient  to  his  business.  We  brought 
our  clothes  and  other  personal  belongings,  but  sold 
our  house  and  household  furniture,  and  since  being 
here  have  boarded. 

"  At  first  my  husband  returned  from  business  every 
day,  then  he  did  not  come  home  so  often.  Three 
weeks  ago  he  returned  and  said:  'My  business  has 
failed  and  my  money  is  all  lost.  I  need  money  to- 
night to  begin  business  again.  Will  von  lend  me 
your  possessions  ?  I  will  give  them  back  to  you  in  a 
week  with  a  reward.'  I  did  as  he  asked,  giving  him 
both  mv  money  and  valuables.  Every  day  since  I 
have  looked  for  him,  but  in  vain. 

"  Soon  after  his  disappearance  I  began  to  receive 
letters  from  those  whom  he  owed,  and  creditors  began 
to  call  on  me.  This  was  the  first  that  I  knew  of  his 
having  contracted  a  large  debt,  and  the  knowledge 
occasioned  me  much  sadness.  I  searched  in  his  busi- 
ness places  for  some  trace  of  him  but  could  find  none. 


A  New- Year's  Dinner — Etc.  35 

A  week  ago  my  landlord  said  he  could  not  keep  me 
any  longer  unless  I  paid  my  board.  On  my  promising 
to  give  him  some  money  soon  he  allowed  me  to  stay 
a  little  while  longer. 

"I  determined  to  seek  help  from  a  rich  aunt 
whom  I  had  not  visited  for  ten  years  on  account 
of  having  angered  her  by  a  mistake  I  made,  hop- 
ing she  would  forgive  the  past.  When  I  told  her 
of  my  trouble  and  asked  her  to  lend  me  some  money 
she  coldly  said  she  could  lend  me  no  money  unless 
I  mortgaged  something.  I  had  nothing  to  mortgage 
except  the  clothing  I  wore,  but  my  need  was  great ; 
so  taking  off  some  of  my  garments  I  gave  them  to  her 
in  exchange  for  a  small  sum  of  money. 

"  With  this  I  paid  my  board,  then  searched  again 
for  my  husband.  This  morning  the  landlord  said  he 
could  keep  me  no  longer.  '  I  feel  very  sorry  for  you,' 
he  said,  '  for  I  do  not  believe  that  you  will  find  your 
husband.'  Then  he  told  me  of  you,  whom  he  knew 
to  be  a  kind,  brave  woman,  and  said  he  believed  you 
would  help  me.     That  is  why  I  am  come. to  you." 

While  considering  her  case  the  words  of  a  wise 
man  came  to  my  mind  :  "  If  a  bird  escape  from  one 
hunter's  hand  and  seek  refuge  in  the  hand  of  an- 
other hunter,  the  latter  would  not  take  her  life." 
Then  I  decided  that  as  the  poor  woman  had  come  to 
me  for  help  I  could  not  turn  her  away.  "  You  may 
come  and  live  with  me,"  I  said,  "  and  I  will  help  you." 
At  this  she  wept  for  joy.  Taking  her  with  me,  I  went 
3 


36  Tel  Sono. 

to  lier  landlord,  paid  the  remainder  of  her  debt  for 
board,  and  had  her  bring  what  few  things  she  owned 
to  my  home.  Then  I  went  and  spoke  to  her  aunt 
about  the  wrong  she  had  done  in  taking  the  clothes 
her  niece  was  wearing.  She  was  greatly  ashamed, 
and  gave  back  the  clothes,  but  would  not  keep  her 
niece,  saying  I  was  free  to  do  for  her  as  I  wished. 

For  a  year  and  a  half  I  kept  the  woman  in  my 
home,  to  the  great  anxiety  of  my  friends,  who  feared 
she  would  rob  me.  I  told  them  they  need  not  trouble  ; 
she  was  only  a  poor  woman,  and  not  able  to  carry 
away  my  goods.  When  I  gave  her  any  thing  the 
same  as  my  family  had,  she  would  begin  to  weep. 
This  I  thought  very  strange,  but  was  made  to  under- 
stand it  when  I  too  became  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land.  Often  the  kind  words  spoken  to  me  when 
lonely  and  sad  have  received  no  other  answer  than  a 
ilood  of  tears. 


Arrival  in  America — Etc. 


37 


CHAPTER  YI. 

ARRIVAL    IN"    AMERICA FIRST    EXPERIENCES. 

It  was  the  19th  day  of  December,  1885,  that  I  set 
sail  for  America,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  the  7th  of 
January,  1SS6. 

Before  leaving  my  country  I  wrote  the  following 
poem : 


I* 

6 

X  & 

"  My  dear  native  land,  my  heart  will  never  change 
its  purpose,  my  duty  to  you  will  never  be  forgotten. 


38  Tel  Sono. 

If  my  purpose  cannot  be  perfected  I  will  never  return 
to  you,  but  will  die  in  the  strange  country,  and  there 
my  .body  will  turn  to  dust." 

To  all  who  had  hired  money  of  me  I  gave  back  the 
notes  which  I  held  against  them,  valued  at  over  one 
thousand  dollars. 

Three  months  after  my  arrival  in  San  Francisco 
the  Bank  of  Japan,  in  which  my  money  was  deposited, 
failed.  "When  I  heard  of  that  I  concluded  it  would  not 
have  been  right  for  me  to  use  this  money,  which  had 
been  obtained  in  the  business  of  law,  because  in  making 
one  person  happy  I  had  made  another  sad,  in  making 
one  love  me  I  had  made  another  hate  me,  and  that 
surely  could  not  be  right. 

Now,  I  said,  is  my  opportunity  to  gain  a  varied 
experience.  I  determined  to  do  housework,  not  only 
to  earn  my  living  and  make  money  for  my  future 
work,  but  also  to  see  how  different  people  lived.  I 
hired  a  room  in  a  colored  family,  and  began  to  look 
about  for  employment.  Not  knowing  any  thing  of 
the  English  language,  my  situation  was  rather  a 
difficult  and  painful  one. 

One  morning  a  gentleman  came  to  the  Japanese 
Mission  and  wanted  a  boy  or  girl  to  do  house-work 
and  cooking.  No  one  was  willing  to  go  because 
it  was  so  far  from  San  Francisco  and  on  a  farm, 
but  I  wanted  to  see  how  American  farmers  lived 
and  said  I  would  gro.  lie  asked  me  if  I  could  cook 
and  do  housework.      As  I  could  not  speak  English 


Arkival  in  America — Etc.  39 

a  friend  answered  for  me  and  said  I  could  do  any 
work. 

Then  he  engaged  me,  and  we  took  the  train  to  Lis 
home.  His  wife  was  waiting  for  us  at  the  station  with 
the  busrgv. 

The  family  numbered  six,  the  gentleman  and  his 
wife,  their  daughter,  two  hired  men,  and  myself. 
The  house  was  large',  containing  fourteen  rooms,  sur- 
rounded by  a  beautiful  yard,  in  which  were  many 
flowers.  The  gentleman  was  a  Mexican,  and  his  wife 
a  very  proud  German  woman.  She  was  angry  because 
I  could  not  speak  English,  and  knew  so  little  about 
housework,  as  it  gave  her  trouble  to  teach  me ;  and 
she  would  scold  her  husband  for  engaging  me.  Every 
morning,  to  atone  for  his  mistake,  he  would  get  up 
early  and  teach  me  how  to  cook  the  breakfast.  His 
wife  taught  mo  at  dinner-time,  and  in  about  ten 
davs  I  could  do  the  work.  One  morning  I  made  the 
biscuits  without  any  baking-powder,  so  the  next  time 
she  had  her  daughter  make  them  for  me  to  bake ;  but 
I  did  not  know  how  long  to  let  them  stay  in  the  oven. 
At  dinner-time,  after  ringing  the  first  bell,  I  looked 
at  them  and  saw  they  were  all  black.  1  felt  so  ashamed 
and  troubled  that  I  hid  them  under  the  wood  in  the 
kindling  box.  She  called  me  to  bring  in  the  biscuits, 
but  I  could  not ;  so  she  came  into  the  kitchen,  and, 
not  finding  them,  asked  me  where  they  were.  I  said, 
"  Please  excuse  me  !  Please  excuse  me."  I  was  very 
much  afraid,  because  when  angry  she  would  slap  her 


40  Tel  Sono. 

daughter,  so  I  ran  and  hid  in  the  closet.  A  longtime 
after  I  told  her  about  it  and  she  laughed  very  much, 
as  she  had  then  learned  to  love  nie. 

I  had  to  work  very  hard  from  morning  until  night, 
and,  as  I  had  no  time  to  stud}',  decided  to  hide  every 
day  for  twenty  minutes  and  read  my  books.  Often  I 
studied  until  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  and  in  that  way 
succeeded  in  translating  the  Third  and  Fourth  Readers. 
Not  being  accustomed  to  work,  it  caused  my  hands  to 
become  sore  and  my  limbs  to  swell  so  that  I  had  to 
lie  down  to  study  at  night.  When  my  friends  saw 
the  books  I  translated  they  were  surprised  and  very 
much  pleased. 

I  asked  Mr.  Meyama,  my  pastor,  to  find  me  a  room 
for  which  I  would  have  to  pay  but  little  or  nothing. 
lie  answered  laughingly  that  he  could  not  unless  I 
were  willing  to  stay  down  cellar  in  the  darkness.  I 
said  I  would  try  it,  so  he  went  with  me  to  see  a  room 
under  the  Chinese  Mission.  It  had  no  windows,  but  a 
little  light  came  from  a  hole  through  which  I  could  see 
the  feet  of  the  people  as  they  passed  by  on  the  street. 
As  I  had  no  money  to  pay  rent  I  decided  to  stay  there. 

Mr.  Meyama  swept  and  washed  the  floor,  then 
brought  a  candle  and  lamp,  an  old  bedstead,  and  a 
sheet  from  the  mission.  He  told  me  to  sew  the  sheet 
up,  leaving  one  end  open.  When  I  had  done  so  he 
took  it  away,  and  after  a  while  returned  carrying 
what  I  thought  was  a  large  white  post.  He  put  it  on 
the  bedstead   and  said    it  was   my  bed.     "  Am  I  to 


Arrival  in  America — Etc.  41 

sleep  on  a  big  post  ? "  I  asked.  It  would  become  very- 
comfortable,  he  said,  after  I  had  slept  on  it  a  week. 
When  he  had  gone  away  I  examined  my  strange- 
looking  bed  and  found  it  was  made  of  many  white 
sticks.  I  did  not  believe  I  could  sleep  on  it,  and,  going 
to  Mr.  Meyama,  told  him  I  thought  lie  had  played  a 
joke  on  me.  He  said,  "O  no,  indeed!  That  is 
truly  a  bed,  a  chip  bed,  as  we  call  it  in  this  country." 
To  convince  me  he  showed  me  the  young  men's 
beds  in  the  mission,  and  said  they  were  just  like  mine 
at  first.  I  returned  to  my  cellar  still  greatly  troubled 
at  the  thought  of  sleeping  on  such  a  queer  thing.  I 
went  to  school  that  night  as  usual,  but  on  my  return 
could  not  study  for  wondering  where  I  should  sleep. 
I  tried  to  make  the  bed  smooth  and  even  by  knocking 
it  with  my  hands,  but  my  attempts  were  vain.  Then 
I  tried  another  experiment,  which  seemed  more  suc- 
cessful, and  went  to  bed  only  to  fall  out  while  asleep. 
This  frightened  me  ;  but  I  determined  to  try  it  once 
again,  and,  taking  the  ropes  from  my  trunk,  tied  the 
bed  to  the  bedstead,  and  lay  down  this  time  to  sleep 
till  morning.  During  the  days  that  followed  I  was 
very  homesick,  and  every  night  dreamed  of  my  native 
land.  When  I  had  time  I  would  go  to  the  top  of  a 
hill,  and,  sitting  down  on  the  grass,  look  out  over  the 
sea  toward  my  home  and  say : 

"  All,  poor  dismal  heart! 
In  a  strange  land  art  lliou, 
Alone  and  friendless  1 


42  Tel  Sono. 

Thou  hast  no  one  to  comfort  thee, 

No  one  to  listen  to  the  tale  of  thy  woe. 

The  great  deep  lies  between  thee  and  home, 

The  clouds  hang,  a  veil  before  thine  eyes ; 

And  in  vain  thou  cryest 

For  native  land  and  mother!  " 

I  was  indeed  sad  !  The  light  of  God's  truth  had 
not  yet  shone  into  my  heart,  my  present  position  was 
very  low,  and  the  future  was  full  of  darkness  in  respect 
to  the  accomplishment  of  my  work. 

A  Christian  lady,  Mrs.  E.  P.  Keeney,  who  lived  in 
the  city  of  San  Francisco,  hearing  of  my  wretched 
condition,  took  me  to  her  home  and  showed  me  great 
kindness. 

She  taught  me  so  that  in  three  months  I  could  read 
through  the  First  and  Second  Readers.  Then  she  went 
away  and  I  returned  to  the  cellar.  During  the  day  I 
worked  at  different  places  and  at  night  attended 
school.  On  account  of  the  dampness  of  the  cellar  I 
could  not  sit  with  my  feet  on  the  floor,  so  always  sat 
on  the  bed  to  study,  my  little  candle  burning  beside 
me.  The  bed,  by  the  way,  had  become  very  com- 
fortable, so  that  I  used  to  say  when  coming  in 
tired,  "  Dear  bed,  I  love  you  better  than  the  one 
at  home ! " 

One  midnight  I  was  awakened  by  a  great  noise. 
Some  colored  men  were  quarreling  and  fighting.  I 
was  greatly  afraid,  for  I  thought  that  they  might 
come  into  my  room,  because  they  had  already  kicked 
to  pieces  tAvo  doors  in  the  next  room.     I  felt  very 


Arrival,  in  America — Etc.  43 

lonely  and  prayed,  "  O,  true  God,  come  and  save  me  ! 
I  am  very  much  afraid  of  that  noise.  Help,  I  pray, 
lest  they  come  and  kill  me  !  " 

I  believed  God  would  make  peace  between  them  for 
me,  and  at  once  I  ceased  to  fear.  From  that  time  I 
began  to  pray  again  to  the  "  true  God."  I  attended 
every  meeting  at  the  Japanese  Mission,  and  tried  to 
find  him,  but  could  not.  Still  I  continued  to  pray 
alone  in  my  cellar,  and  always  felt  happy  after  prayer. 


44  Tkl  Sono. 


CHAPTER  VrII. 

THREE  DAYS  AT   PUBLIC   SCHOOL YOUXG  LADIES'  SCHOOL 

LARGS      SHOES "  WANT     A     CRACKER  !  " TEACHER 

OP    DRAWING. 

Shortly  after  the  incident  before  mentioned  I  left 
the  cellar  to  work  for  a  kind  Christian  lady,  but  in 
six  weeks  she  was  called  to  Ohio.  Then  Mrs.  K. 
Waterman,  a  lady  living  near,  said  she  would  send 
me  to  school  if  I  would  come  to  her  and  wait  on  her 
daughter.  She  made  this  kind  offer  because  she  was 
in  sympathy  with  my  plans.  Thus  through  her  my 
way  to  gain  an  English  education  was  opened. 

For  three  days  I  attended  the  public  school,  and 
each  day  was  questioned  by  the  principal  regarding 
my  native  country,  my  name,  and  age.  "  Are  you 
sixteen  or  seventeen  years  old  ? "  he  said.  For  a 
long  while  I  stood  without  making  any  reply,  fearing 
to  say  that  I  was  almost  forty  years  old,  lest  he  would 
not  allow  me  to  come  to  school. 

He  did  not  know  what  was  going  on  in  my  heart, 
and  explained  again  in  very  plain  words  his  question. 
I  could  no  longer  be  silent,  so  I  said,  "  I  am  twenty- 
four  years  old."  He  looked  surprised.  "  What  ? 
twenty-four  years  old  !  Are  you  sure  ? "  That  night 
Mrs.  Waterman  received  a  letter  saying  I  could  not 


Three  Days  at  Public  School — Etc.  45 

attend  the  school.  I  wept  bitterly  over  the  letter, 
refusing  to  leave  my  room  or  eat,  so  completely  dis- 
couraged was  I  ;  but  Mrs.  "Waterman  soon  comforted 
me  by  saying  she  would  send  me  to  her  daughter's 
school,  which  she  immediately  did.  In  June,  1S88, 
Mrs.  Waterman's  daughter  died,  and  thus  I  had  no 
work  to  do.  Though  she  did  not  say  for  me  to  go 
away,  I  decided  to  seek  employment  and  a  home  else- 
where. This  time  I  went  to  work  for  a  music-teacher. 
The  family  was  very  late  in  rising,  thus  keeping  me 
late  with  my  work.  In  order  to  reach  school  in  time 
I  would  have  to  run  to  catch  the  train  ;  but  the  con- 
ductor was  kind,  and  used  to  wait  when  he  saw  me 
coming. 

Wishing  to  know  how  to  make  American  dresses 
I  next  went  to  live  with  a  dress-maker.  One  after- 
noon, while  there,  I  was  mending  stockings  in  the 
sitting-room  when  some  ladies  came  in.  They  asked 
me  why  I  was  darning  so  many  stockings.  "  Because 
I  wear  out  a  pair  almost  every  day,"  I  said.  Then 
they  wanted  to  know  what  number  shoes  I  wore. 
I  said  I  did  not  know,  but  that  Japanese  women's 
feet  were  very  large.  Two  of  the  ladies  took  off 
their  shoes  and  tried  them  on  my  feet  and  found 
them  epiite  large  enough.  "  You  should  wear  shoes 
No.  4i  instead  of  No.  7,"  they  said,  laughing  ;  "  then 
your  stockings  would  not  wear  out  so  quickly."  After 
they  had  gone  I  v»Tent  out  and  bought  a  pair  of  boots 
the  proper  size.     I  laughed  very  heartily  after  when 


46  Tel  Sono. 

I  thought  of  how  funny  ISo.  7  shoes  must  have  looked 
with  the  short  skirts  I  then  wore.  I  had  not  thought 
of  my  shoes  being  too  large.  I  had  only  known'  that 
with  every  step  they  slipped  up  and  down  and  that 
my  feet  felt  very  heavy.  So  anxious  was  I  to  study 
that  my  appearance  received  but  little  thought. 

One  afternoon,  while  waiting  for  the  train  to  go 
over  to  the  school,  I  went  into  a  fruit-store  to  buy 
some  bananas.  As  I  was  going  out  some  one  called 
after  me,  "  You  want  cracker  ?  You  want  cracker  ?  " 
I  thought  it  was  the  store-keeper,  and  said,  "  Xo, 
thank  you."  Twice  again  the  question  was  asked.  I 
answered  in  a  little  louder  tone,  for  I  did  not  like  to 
be  asked  so  often,  "  O  no  ;  I  do  not  want  any  ! " 
Then  I  noticed  that  those  about  me  were  laughing, 
and  I  looked  around  to  find  a  parrot  had  been  talking 
to  me.  I  felt  so  ashamed  that  I  hurried  home  with- 
out waiting  for  the  train. 

At  this  time  my  kind  teacher,  Mrs.  Reid,  said  to 
me,  "  I  have  been  thinking  about  you,  and  how  very 
hard  it  is  for  you  to  meet  the  school  expenses  and  your 
car-fare  over  here.  If  you  are  willing  to  teach  draw- 
ing to  the  kindergarten  children  one  hour  every  day 
you  need  not  pay  any  thing  for  instruction." 

This  kind  offer  I  gladly  accepted. 


A  Trvixg  Place.  47 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

A     TRYING     PLACE. 

I  once  went  to  an  employment-office  in  San  Fran- 
cisco in  search  of  work.  The  woman  in  charge  said 
that  she  had  a  very  hard  place,  where  the  lady  could 
not  keep  a  girl  one  week.  I  said  I  would  like  to  try 
it.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family,  the  father 
and  mother,  and  an  up-stairs  girl. 

One  of  my  first  orders  was  that  I  must  not  use 
over  three  shovels  of  coal  at  once,  and  that  whenever 
I  had  any  time  I  must  chop  coal  and  wood.  Every 
night  the  lady  gave  me  three  cupfuls  of  oatmeal  for 
breakfast,  and  that  was  all  the  breakfast  they  had. 
Very  often  I  had  not  enough  hot  water  because  of  not 
being  allowed  to  keep  much  fire.  She  would  come  in 
very  often  to  look  at  the  stove  and  to  see  if  I  had  used 
much  coal ;  and  the  dampers  were  kept  tied  with  wire 
so  that  they  could  not  be  opened  to  make  the  fire 
burn  brightly.  She  and  her  husband  drank  coffee  in 
the  morning,  but  we  were  not  allowed  any  ;  and  if  we 
wished  tea  she  would  put  about  ten  or  twelve  leaves 
in  our  cups. 

From  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  ten  o'clock  at 
night  I  worked  hard.  For  the  up-stairs  girl,  who  was 
about  eighteen  years  old,  I  felt  very  sorry,  because 


48  Tel  Soxto. 

she  had  not  enough  to  eat.  As  she  took  care  of  the 
children  she  had  her  meals  with  the  family,  and  was 
too  much  afraid  of  her  mistress  to  eat  much.  She 
asked  me  to  give  her  a  piece  of  bread  every  evening. 
My  only  opportunity  to  get  it  was  when  taking  off  the 
dishes,  as  the  lady  kept  the  keys  of  the  pantry.  So  I 
would  slip  a  piece  into  my  pocket  and  afterward  put 
it  under  the  girl's  pillow.  She  was  very  grateful  for 
the  bread,  and  said  she  could  not  stay  long  if  I  went 
away,  because  she  had  not  strength  to  work  so  hard 
without  more  food. 

One  morning  after  I  had  baked  as  usual  I  left  the 
bread  and  fresh  biscuits  on  the  table  and  went  to  my 
ironing  in  the  washing-room.  Soon  the  lady  called 
me,  and  with  an  angry  face  said,  "  Did  you  eat  five  of 
those  biscuits?"  I  said  I  had  not  been  in  the 
kitchen  since  having  baked  them.  Then  she  called 
the  up-stairs  girl  and  asked  her,  but  she  said  she  knew 
nothing  of  them.  And  then  she  collected  all  the  chil- 
dren before  the  table,  the  oldest  one  being  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  examined  each  one.  They  all  said 
they  had  not  taken  the  biscuits,  though  I  thought  they 
very  likely  had  eaten  them,  because  they  were  always 
hungry.  Then  she  said  she  believed  the  milkman  had 
stolen  them  when  he  brought  the  milk  into  the 
kitchen.  The  next  time  baking  was  done  she  com- 
manded that  the  bread  be  left  upon  the  same  table,  and 
that  I  watch  from  some  hiding-place  when  the  milk- 
man  came   in.      "  Wait   until   he   gets   out    of  the 


A  Trying  Place.  49 

kitchen,"  she  said,  "then  call  after  him  to  'give  back 
those  biscuits.'  If  he  refuses,  examine  his  pockets." 
Later  she  came  in  and  wanted  to  know  how  he  stole 
the  biscuits  and  whether  he  gave  them  back  or  not; 
but  I  told  her  he  did  not  take  them  and  that  he  said 
he  never  stole  her  biscuits. 

One  Saturday  I  swept  four  bedrooms  and  put  the 
children's  large  play-room  in  order  between  doing  the 
cooking;  but  she  said  I  did  not  do  enough  work  for 
the  money  I  received.  I  said,  "  Very  well,  you  may 
get  some  one  else  to  do  your  work.  I  cannot  work  any 
more  than  I  am  doing."  About  ten  o'clock  at  night, 
a  few  days  later,  she  said  for  me  to  begin  ironing  be- 
cause the  next  day  would  be  very  busy.  "  No,"  I 
said,  "  I  cannot  work  after  ten  o'clock."  "  You  must 
obey  me,"  she  exclaimed.  "If  you  wish  I  will  go 
away  at  once,  but  I  cannot  obey  such  an  unjust  com- 
mand." "  If  you  do  go  away  now  I  will  not  pay  you 
for  your  past  work."  "  Very  well,  I  will  never  sacrifice 
my  health  for  money.  However,  I  will  make  public 
your  conduct  for  the  benefit  of  others."  I  began  to 
pack  my  things  to  go  away  at  once,  but  her  husband 
asked  me  to  stay  two  days  and  promised  he  would 
pay  me  honestly.  The  children  also  begged  me  to 
stay  and  excuse  their  mother. 

The  last  morning  I  rose  early,  did  all  the  morning 
work,  and  baked  so  that  there  would  be  enough  bread 
to  eat  for  a  week  after  I  had  gone.  "  Why  did  you 
bake  bread  ? "  the  lady  said,  coming  into  the  kitchen. 


50  Tel  Sono. 

"  I  do  not  want  it,  and  you  must  pay  me  for  it."  I 
said  I  was  very  sorry,  but  would  pay  her  seventy 
cents  for  the  seven  loaves.  "  You  must  pay  one 
dollar  for  the  time  you  spent,"  she  said.  I  did  so,  and 
then  I  said,  "I  hope  you  will  go  to  church  now  and 
get  your  heart  in  a  better  condition."  A  boy  came 
from  the  Japanese  Mission  to  help  me  carry  my  things. 
lie  looked  on  surprised  when  he  saw  me  tying  up 
the  bread,  and  the  lady  watched  my  movements  very 
closely.  "  You  need  not  trouble  about  the  bread,"  I 
said,  "  because  it  is  mine."  "  Where  are  you  going  to 
take  it  ? "  she  questioned.  "  To  my  pastor  and 
friends.  And  now  I  want  to  thank  you  very  much 
for  the  experience  I  have  had  with  you.  It  has  been 
good  for  me." 

On  my  way  to  the  mission  I  bought  some  tea  and 
a  half-roll  of  butter.  After  I  made  the  tea  we  sat 
down  to  enjoy  the  bread.  "You  must  eat  with  a 
relish,"  I  said,  "  for  this  is  very  dear  bread."  Then 
I  told  them  all  about  what  had  happened,  and  we  had 
a  merry  time  together. 


Clear  Shining  of  the  Truth— Etc.  51 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CLEAR    SHINING    OF    THE    TRUTH BAPTISM ORGANIZING 

OF  A    BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY WORK  AMONG  THE  FALLEN. 

As  I  went  into  these  different  homes,  sixteen  in 
all,  I  went  with  the  purpose  to  learn  all  possible.  One 
thing  could  not  fail  to  impress  me,  and  that  was  the 
difference  between  those  homes  where  God  was  hon- 
ored and  where  he  was  not. 

After  many  talks  with  my  pastor  and  kind  Chris- 
tian ladies,  and  after  studying  the  Bible  diligently,  I 
came  to  know  Christ  as  my  Saviour.  God  spoke  to 
me,  and  I  knew  him  to  be  the  true  God  for  whom  I 
had  searched  so  many  years.  I  was  very  happy,  and 
wanted  to  be  baptized  soon,  and  yet  I  wanted  to  do 
something  for  my  Saviour  before  I  was  baptized.  It 
was  just  at  this  time  that  my  mother  died  in  Japan, 
her  last  words  being,  "  My  work  is  not  perfected,  for 
I  am  only  sixty  years  old  ;  but  I  must  die." 

One  Saturday  night  at  the  meeting  my  pastor  said, 
"  I  wish  all  the  brothers  and  sisters  would,  in  Christ's 
name,  collect  money  for  the  new  mission.  It  is  very 
near  Christmas,  and  we  want  a  new  carpet  for  it." 
He  gave  us  some  cards  on  which  to  write  the  names 
of  those  who  would  subscribe.  I  took  three,  and  at 
once  began  to  collect  money  from  my  friends,  going 


52  Tel  Sono. 

without  my  luncheon  that  I  might  spend  the  hour 
that  was  free  from  lessons  in  collecting. 

From  thirty-three  ladies  I  obtained  money,  and  the 
next  Saturday  gave  it  to  Mr.  Harris,  who  was  much 
pleased  with  what  lie  called  my  "gift  to  God." 

Then  at  the  fair  held  for  the  purpose  of  paying  off 
the  mission's  building  debt  I  took  a  table  of  Japanese 
oranges  and  candy,  making  over  fifty  dollars  in  two 
evenings  and  one  day. 

On  Christmas  day,  1889,  I  was  baptized  and  joined 
the  Japanese  Mission,  with  the  fixed  purpose  to  devote 
my  life  to  God's  service. 

After  studying  three  years  in  the  private  school  I 
was  graduated,  1889,  and  returned  to  San  Francisco 
to  do  hard  work  again  that  I  might  earn  money 
enough  to  attend  some  training-school  for  Christian 
workers. 

On  my  return  the  sad  and  destitute  condition  of 
many  of  my  country  sisters  appealed  to  my  heart.  I 
determined  to  help  them  in  some  way,  and  in  Janu- 
ary organized  a  benevolent  society,  its  object  being  to 
help  the  poor  and  fallen  among  the  Japanese  women, 
to  give  food  and  care  to  the  sick,  to  provide  a  way  for 
children  to  be  attended  to  while  their  mothers  worked, 
and  to  lead  the  wicked  into  the  path  of  righteousness. 
I  put  into  this  society  all  the  money  I  had  saved  for 
niv  future  work,  and  secured  over  one  hundred  mem- 
bers for  it.  Shortly  after  the  organizing  of  this  soci- 
ety a  poor  Japanese  Woman  who  had  been   carrying 


Clear  Shining  of  the  Truth — Etc.  53 

on  an  evil  work  died.  As  she  had  no  relations  in 
this  country  the  people  among  whom  she  lived  took 
care  of  her  while  she  was  sick,  but  they  had  no  place 
to  bury  her.  Two  men  came  to  my  office  and  wished 
me  to  speak  to  my  pastor  about  allowing  them  to 
bury  this  woman  in  the  Japanese  Mission  burial- 
grounds.  I  did  so,  and  told  Lira  that  I  thought  this 
a  good  opportunity  to  put  into  operation  my  plan  of 
doing  benevolent  work  among  these  most  degraded* 
and  sunken  people.  He  gladly  granted  their  request, 
and  then  they  asked  him  to  conduct  the  funeral  serv- 
ice and  invited  me  to  accompany  him.  We  went  to 
the  undertaker's  house,  where  the  corpse  was,  and 
where  was  gathered  quite  a  company  of  men  and 
women.  I  looked  carefully  into  their  condition,  and 
when  the  service  was  over  asked  the  manager  to  give 
em  time  to  speak.  Standing  up,  I  said  :  "  I  am  very 
glad  to  meet  yon,  my  dear  country  sisters.  Will  you 
not  all  stand  and  look  once  more  into  the  dead  face  of 
this  our  sister  i  What  do  you  think  about  her  face? 
Is  it  not  sorrowful  and  thin  ?  I  can  almost  see  her 
sorrow-stricken  heart  when  her  life  went  out.  Per- 
haps she  had  been  homesick  and  wished  to  *see  her 
parents  and  sisters  and  brothers,  and  died  saving,  'I 
hope  to  see  once  more  my  dear  native  place  and  my 
mother  and  father.'  Some  ancient  person  has  said, 
'  When  a  person  dies  his  last  words  are  good.'  When 
people  are  in  good  health,  eat  nice  food,  wear  beauti- 
ful clothes,  and  are  engaged  in  unclean  business  they 


54  Tel  Sono. 

never  remember  their  native  land,  but  selfishly  go  on 
getting  more  and  more  and  wanting  still  more  and 
more.     They  never  turn  to  see  their  own  hearts  cov- 
ered  up   with   wickedness,    and   do   not   prepare  for 
death,  although  this  is  not  our  eternal  home.     When 
we  die  we  must  go  back  to  the  eternal  home  of  our 
heavenly  Father.     This  sister's  mother,   father,  and 
relations  are  waiting  for  her  and   saying  proudly  to 
'  their    friends    every    day:    'My    daughter    went    to 
America,  where   she    is   getting  a   good  education.' 
They  do  not  know  the  sad  condition  in  which  she  is  ; 
they  never  think  of  evil.     Then,  sisters,  what  do  you 
think  will  happen  when  this  sad  message  reaches  her 
parents?     The  poor  mother  will  perhaps  die  with  a 
broken    heart.     Sisters,   you   have   parents.     Do  not 
forget  them,  do  not  forget  your  loved  native  land. 
Pass  not  through  the  narrow  and  unclean  streets,  but 
walk  in  the  right,  large  road."     The  women  sobbed 
aloud  and  the  men  hung  their  heads.      When  I  saw 
how  they  felt  I  said  :  "  I  trust  that  yon  are  nut  en- 
gaged in  wicked  business,  but  if  you  find  among  your 
friends  any  one  who  does  work  that  is  not  right  please 
ask  her  to  stop  ;   and  if  you  find  those  who  are  poor 
or  in  any  trouble  come  and  tell  me,  that  I  may  help 
them.     I  have  established  a  society  for  those  who  need 
help,  and  have  a  room  all  ready  for  them  ;  therefore 
please  come  to  me  at  any  time."     Then  we  went  to 
the    burial-ground,   returning   to  the    mission    about 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.     That  night  all  my  Jap- 


Clear  Shining  of  the  Truth — Etc.  55 

anese  Christian  friends  met  in  the  pastor's  sitting- 
room,  and  lie  told  them  about  what  I  had  said.  ';  Your 
words  were  very  good,"  he  said,  turning  to  me. 
"  Every  body  lias  been  afraid  to  speak  against  these 
wicked  people,  but  you  were  not  afraid." 

It  is  the  custom  in  Japan  when  a  person  lias  been 
dead  seven  days  for  the  family  to  make  a  feast  and 
invite  all  who  attended  the  funeral.  These  people 
observed  this  custom,  and  invited  me  to  the  house  of 
the  chief  man  who  had  had  charge  of  the  woman's 
funeral.  My  friends  feared  to  have  me  go ;  but  I 
said  I  believed  the  people  trusted  me  and  would  do 
me  no  harm,  and  accordingly  went  with  the  guide 
who  was  sent  for  me.  On  reaching  the  place  I  was 
seated  in  a  pleasant  room  and  served  with  a  nice  din- 
ner. When  through  my  dinner  they  asked  me  to 
speak,  which  I  gladly  did.  At  eleven  o'clock  I  went 
back  to  the  mission,  accompanied  by  one  of  the  men. 
Three  women  had  asked  to  become  members  of  my 
society,  and  some  of  the  men  had  said  :  "  I  will  stop 
gambling  and  drinking  wine  ;  therefore  please  put  my 
name  among  your  society  members."  About  ten 
days  after  the  chief  man  brought  me  five  dollars. 
"  We  collected  fifty -four  dollars  from  among  our  com- 
pany for  the  funeral,"  he  said.  "After  Expenses 
were  paid  teu  dollars  remained,  and  I  wish  to  give 
half  to  the  Japanese  Mission  and  half  to  your  society 
if  you  will  please  receive  this  small  gift."  I  did  so, 
and  he  went  away  with  a  glad  heart. 


5G  Tel  Sono. 

Nearly  every  day  I  was  visited  by  these  people, 
many  becoming  members  of  the  society  and  attending 
the  Sunday  services  at  the  mission. 

Thus  was  begun  Christian  work  among  fallen  men 
and  women.  Every  day  I  visited  them,  explained 
the  Bible,  and  pleaded  with  them  to  do  right.  My 
friends  begged  me  to  stop,  for  they  feared  I  would 
suffer  harm  ;  but  I  did  not  fear.  I  knew  my  God 
was  always  with  me. 

The  work  of  the  society  is  still  carried  on  by  Mrs. 
M.  E.  Harris,  who  is  president.  Many  poor  children 
are  kept  there,  and  when  women  and  girls  get  out  of 
work  they  stay  there  and  take  care  of  the  children 
till  they  find  a  good  place ;  then  others  come  to  take 
their  place.  Thus  the  work  goes  on,  constantly 
changing  and  growing. 


A  Backslider  Reclaimed.  57 


CHAPTER  X. 

A    BACKSLIDER    RECLAIMED. 

One  afternoon  a  Japanese  young  man  came  to  my 
office  and  asked  if  I  would  listen  to"*his  story.  On 
my  answering  that  I  would  be  pleased  to  do  so  lie  re- 
lated the  following :  "  I  came  to  San  Francisco  one 
and  a  half  years  ago,  accompanied  by  about  twenty-five 
Japanese.  One  of  the  number  had  been  a  Christian 
many  years,  and  he  preached  to  us  every  day  on  the 
voyage.  His  preaching  made  us  feel  very  happy  ;  it 
comforted  our  hearts  and  made  us  forget  our  loneli- 
ness. Soon  after  we  arrived  here  three  of  us  believed 
on  Christ,  whom  we  had  heard  of  during  the  voyage 
through  this  man's  preaching,  and  we  went  to  work 
to  earn  money  for  our  education.  Not  long  after  we 
heard  that  our  preacher  had  begun  to  drink  and  play 
cards.  This  made  us  feel  very  sad,  and  we  begged 
him  to  stop,  but  he  would  not  listen  to  our  words. 
Then  we  determined  on  asking  you  to  speak  to  him, 
and  it  is  for  that  purpose  that  I  come  to  you  to-day." 
I  said  I  feared  he  Mrould  not  listen  to  me,  as  I  was  only  a 
poor  woman,  but  that  I  would  try  what  I  could  do. 
That  evening  the  young  man  accompanied  me  to  the 
house  of  his  friend  and  said  to  him,  "  Miss  Sono  wants 
to  speak  to  you."    "  Well,"  he  answered,  his  thick  voice 


58  Tel  Sono. 

and  red  face  betokening:  the  drunkard.  He  looked 
intently  at  me  for  a  long  while,  then  remembered  that 
he  had  heard  me  speak  at  the  poor  woman's  funeral. 
I  talked  with  him  a  long  while,  but  apparently  with 
no  good  result,  for  he  said,  "  Wine  is  a  very  good 
thing.  I  love  it  very  much.  Indeed,  I  must  love  it, 
because  when  I  have  trouble  or  am  sad  I  can  at  once 
become  happy  by  taking  the  dear  wine.  It  makes  me 
forget  my  poverty."  I  waited  until  he  became  more 
sober,  then  asked  him  if  his  parents  were  living.  He 
said  his  mother,  seventy  years  old,  was  living,  and  that 
she  had  no  other  children.  Then  I  said,  the  tears 
running  down  my  cheeks  all  the  time  I  talked, 
"  Who  is  taking  care  of  her  now  ?  It  is  your  duty  to 
care  for  her.  She  has  loved  you  very  deeply,  more 
deeply  than  you  can  love  her.  You  ought  not  to 
come  so  far  away  while  she  is  living.  She  is  think- 
ing of  you  every  day,  and  waiting  for  you  to  return,  for 
she  longs  to  see  your  face  before  she  dies.  She  is  old 
and  soon  must  die.  Can  you  do  her  any  good  after 
she  dies V'  His  face  was  downcast  while  I  talked; 
then  he  said,  "  I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  kind- 
ness to  me.  I  will  think  seriously  about  what  you 
have  said.  It  is  very  late  now,  and  you  had  better  go 
back."  When  I  reached  the  mission  with  my  guide 
it  was  almost  twelve  o'clock.  From  that  time  the 
man  began  to  attend  regularly  the  Sunday  meeting, 
and  during  the  week  to  talk  with  many  of  his  friends. 
The   young  man  afterward   thanked    me  for  having 


A  Backslider  Reclaimed.  59 

spoken  to  his  friend  and  causing  him  to  stop  the  use 
of  wine.  When  I  left  San  Francisco  the  reformed 
man  met  me  at  the  station  to  say  good-bye.  My  last 
words  to  him  were,  "  Please  do  not  forget  your  mother, 
but  go  back  while  she  lives." 


GO  Tel  Song. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

AT     CHICAGO ARTICLE     FROM    "  UNION    SIGNAL" PRES- 
ENT   HOME. 

In  May  of  1SS9  my  pastor  advised  me  to  attend 
the  Chicago  Training-School,  of  which  Mrs.  L.  P,. 
Meyer  is  principal.  Accordingly,  I  made  preparation 
to  go,  and  on  the  eve  of  my  leaving  San  Francisco 
was  given  a  reception  hy  my  friends  there. 

After  my  departure  Mrs.  L.  M.  Carver,  President 
of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  of 
which  I  had  become  a  member  in  April,  kindly  wrote 
an  article  to  the  Union  Signal,  descriptive  of  my 
work.  Thinking  it  may  be  of  interest,  I  insert  it 
here : 

"June  13,  18S9. 

"  Dear  Union  Signal  :  Truly  it  can  be  said  of  us 
thart  we  are  living  in  a  time  when  to  be  living  is  sub- 
lime. Scarcely  had  the  echoes  of  admiration  and 
wonder,  of  feting  and  parting  for  the  lovely  Pamabai 
died  away,  when,  lo  !  as  in  a  panoramic  tableau,  an- 
other Oriental  scene  is  presented  to  our  view,  and 
Japan,  the  progressive  island  queen  of  the  Orient,  is 
to  be  honored  and  blessed  with  a  native  Christian 
woman  reformer,  Miss  Cassie  Tel  Sono. 

"Having   been   in   comparative   seclusion  till  near 


At  Chicago — Etc.  61 

the  time  of  leaving  our  shores,  we  give  a  little  of  her 
history,  which  reads  like  a  romance,  and  not  only 
proves  that  '  truth  is  stranger  than  fiction,'  but  that 
'  His  word  shall  not  return  unto  him  void,  hut  shall 
accomplish  that  whereunto  it  is  sent.'  Belonging  to 
the  better  class  in  her  own  country,  her  father  being 
an  esha  (physician),  and  herself  a  dai-gen  (lawyer),  a 
thing  unheard  of  for  a  woman  in  Japan,  she  was 
in  a  position  to  see  the  degraded  and  almost  help- 
less condition  of  the  women  and  children,  especially 
of  the  lower  classes. 

"  Catching  glimpses  through  the  missionary  fami- 
lies of  the  favored  lot  of  the  wives  and  mothers  of 
America,  she  determined  to  come  to  this  country, 
learn  the  lanomao-e.  and  become  familiar  with  the 
customs  of  the  people,  then  return  to  her  native  land 
and  introduce  a  wide-spread  reform. 

"  She  landed  in  San  Francisco  in  January,  1886, 
and  found  her  first  home  in  the  Chinese  and  Japanese 
Mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Rev. 
J.  M.  Masters  being  superintendent  and  pastor.  In- 
tent on  the  one  idea  of  learning  the  language,  she  fol- 
lowed the  advice  of  the  Rev.  Mej-ama,  who  was  then 
on  this  coast,  and  went  into  an  exemplary  Christian 
family  to  assist  in  household  duties  and  the  care  of 
children.  Though  wholly  unused  to  any  kind  of 
manual  labor,  she  succeeded  by  indomitable  persever- 
ance in  making  herself  useful,  and  at  the  same  time 
had   in   three  months  learned  to  read  the  First  and 


62  Tel  Sono. 

Second  Readers  quite  satisfactorily,  and  had  endeared 
herself  to  all. 

"About  this  time  the  gingl'o  (bank)  in  Japan,  in 
which  she  had  some  money  deposited  for  her  future 
work  of  reform,  having  failed,  she  became  greatly  de- 
pressed, but,  true  to  her  heroic  nature,  she  rose  su- 
perior to  all  discouragements,  and  through  the  kind- 
ness of  a  noble  Christian  woman,  Mrs.  E.  P.  Keeney, 
who  took  her  to  her  home  and  assisted  her  in  every 
way,  she  was  soon  able  to  enter  a  young  ladies'  classi- 
cal school,  where  she  remained  till  she  was  graduated. 
In  the  meantime  she  had  embraced  Christianity,  was 
baptized  on  Christmas  day  at  her  earnest  request, 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Japanese  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  M.  C.  Harris, 
formerly  missionary  to  Japan,  is  pastor. 

"  It  was  far  from  the  purpose  of  Tel  Sono  to  adopt 
the  religion  of  this  country.  Her  chief  object  was  to 
avail  herself  of  its  educational  and  reformatory  meth- 
ods. But  she  soon  learned  that  Christianity  was  what 
had  placed  America  so  far  in  advance  of  Japan. 

"  Now  we  see  her  trying  to  comprehend  the  great 
doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  in  a  crucified  and 
risen  Saviour.  Hitherto  it  had  been  her  delight  to 
argue  with  and  confound  the  Japanese  converts,  which 
she  could  do  so  successfully  that  they  avoided  coming 
in  contact  with  her  sophistry.  But,  having  once  been 
convinced  that  Jesus  was  the  only  Saviour,  she  imme- 
diately set  about   trying  to  make  amends  for  the  past 


At  Chicago — Etc.  63 

by  becoming  a  missionary  among  her  people,  begin- 
ning her  work  of  reform  wherever  she  saw  an  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  good.  Having  collected  $100  for  the 
relief  of  the  needy  and  unfortunate  among  her  coun- 
trymen, she  established  a  benevolent  society,  which  is 
already  proving  a  great  blessing  to  them. 

"  Last,  but  not  least,  she  became  interested  in  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  and  united 
with  the  North  San  Francisco  Union,  Miss  S.  M.  Y. 
Cunimings  president.  Through  her  instrumentality 
and  that  of  our  co-worker,  Rev.  M.  C.  Harris,  we 
expect  to  organize  a  Woman's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union  among  the  Japanese.  A  few  days  after 
adopting  the  white  ribbon  an  incident  occurred  that 
is  worthy  of  relating,  as  it  shows  how  omnipotent 
is  example  and  how  helpful  is  the  '  bit  of  white 
ribbon.' 

"  A  lady  who  wished  to  do  her  honor  invited  her  to 
a  sumptuous  farewell  dinner;  and,  to  tell  it  in  her 
own  language,  she  said  :  '  Every  thing  was  very,  very 
fine — soup  and  chickens,  salad  and  cakes,  and  the  lit- 
tle red  wine-glasses  to  every  plate.  When  they  pour 
my  wine  I  shake  my  head  and  say,  "  No,  no,  I  drink 
no  wine."  The  lady  she  say,  "What  you  mean,  Cas- 
sie?  "  (her  American  name.)  "You  not  like  wine?" 
Then  I  put  my  fingers  on  my  white  ribbon  and  say, 
"  I  belong  to  temperance  society."  Then  all  the  glasses 
and  wine  go  quick  from  the  table.'  This  was  told  in 
a  serio-comic  manner  that  was  laughable  in  the  ex- 


04  Tel  Sono. 

treme ;  but  a  lump  came  up  in  our  throat  that  would 

not  down,  for  we  thought  of  the  thousands  in   this 

Christian  land  who  were  drinking  wine  to  their  ruin, 

and  how  few  there  are  who,  like  this  noble  Japanese 

woman, 

"  '  Dare  to  stand  alone, 
Dare  to  have  a  purpose  firm, 
Dare  to  make  it  known.' 

"As  she  is  now  in  Chicago  to  attend  the  school  for 
deaconesses  preparatory  to  the  great  mission  to 
which  she  seems  called  of  God,  we  trust  these  lines 
may  be  instrumental  in  helping  her  to  a  better  knowl- 
edge of  our  Christian  temperance  work. 

"  At  a  reception  given  her  at  the  Japanese  Mission 
just  before  her  departure,  at  which,  among  others,  one 
hundred  Japanese  students  were  present  who  vied  in 
doing  her  honor,  she  seized  the  opportunity  to  impress 
them  with  the  fact  of  the  great  evils  from  the  use  of 
intoxicants  and  narcotics,  and  requested  3*011  r  corre- 
spondent to  speak  to  them  of  the  dangers  to  which 
the3r  were  exposed  in  this  great  city. 

"Forgetful  of  self,  her  heart  yearned  over  those 
whom  she  was  about  to  leave,  and,  speaking  to  them  in 
words  of  anxious  tenderness,  she  made  a  deep  and 
lasting  impression  on  their  minds  so  receptive  to  good 
influences. 

"She  will  be  missed  by  her  people  and  by  many 
friends  who  have  learned  to  love  and  esteem  her  for 
her  sterling  Christian  virtues,  so  indispensable  to -any 


At  Chicago — Etc.  05 

reformatory  work.  But  we  bid  her  God-speed  on  her 
mission  of  love  and  mercy,  and  pray  that  she  may  be 
spared  to  return  to  her  native  land  to  act  a  noble  part 
in  rescuing  the  perishing  millions  of  that  lovely  '  Sun- 
rise Land.' " 

I  remained  in  Chicago  until  November,  1889,  when 
Mrs.  Meyer  sent  me  to  the  Missionary  Training  Insti- 
tute in  Brooklyn,  K  Y.,  that  I  might  have  better  ad- 
vantages for  studying  the  English  branches.  This 
school,  in  which  I  am  now  studying,  and  of  which 
Mrs.  L.  D.  Osborn  is  principal,  is  indeed  a  blessed  and 
pleasant  home.  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  here,  and  have 
every  opportunity  of  gaining  a  rich  Christian  experi- 
ence. The  light  of  God  shines  into  the  darkness  of 
my  heart  as  I  listen  to  Mrs.  Osborn' s  good  words  of 
counsel.  All  the  students  love  me  and  show  special 
kindness  to  the  stranger  in  their  midst. 

As  there  are  no  charges  for  board  orMuition,  I  am 
free  from  all  financial  embarrassment.  Only  those  who 
have  known  what  it  is  to  have  a  great  work  upon  their 
hearts  and  no  means  to  prepare  for  the  accomplish- 
ing of  that  work  can  know  the  joy  of  finding  such  a 
haven  as  this. 

My  gratitude  to  my  heavenly  Father  and  to  Mrs. 
Osborn  is  unbounded.  Never,  never  can  I  be  un- 
mindful of  the  love  that  has  been  shown  me  in  this 
school  and  the  blessings  I  have  received  here. 

My   plan   for   the    future    is    to    establish   a  free 


66  Tel  Sotfo. 

Christian  school  in  my  native  place,  where  there 
are  no  Christians,  no  churches,  no  missionary 
schools.  Already  the  voices  from  over  the  ocean  are 
calling,  '"  Come  back  quickly !  Come  and  lead  us 
into  a  better  and  a  happier  life." 

I  lono-  to  return  that  I  may  live  and  work  and 
die  for  my  heathen  sisters.  God  has  led  me  to 
America,  he  has  blessed  me  with  his  own  salvation, 
has  provided  for  the  needs  of  my  body  and  soul ;  and 
now  he  bids  me  2:0  back  to  the  home-land  and  there 
make  known  his  law. 

Christian  sisters,  you  can  promote  the  accomplish- 
ing of  my  purpose.  Those  whom  I  seek  to  help, 
those  who  are  being  held  in  slavery  and  ignorance, 
and  whom  I  long  to  liberate,  are  your  sisters  too,  for 
God  "hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men." 
"When  you  come  up  before  the  judgment-throne  and 
meet  those  throngs  for  whom  I  plead,  your  reward 
will  be  the  greater  if  among  them  there  are  those 
whom  you  have  helped  to  save ;  and  the  less  if  there 
arc  those  whom  you  might  have  helped  to  save  but 
did  not,  and  who,  therefore,  must  hear  the  awful 
word,  "  Depart !  " 

Do  to-day  what  you  will  wish  you  had  done  when 
time  with  its  opportunities  is  past.  For  Jesus'  sake, 
withhold  not  your  prayers,  your  sympathy,  your  aid  ! 

THE    END. 


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UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


